Chapter 10

10

HUNTER

My hands run over my short hair as I sit outside the clinic, thinking about everything that's happened the last week. It's been thirty-six hours since I walked away from Emma, leaving a part of my soul with her. I’ve never experienced anguish like that, seeing her upset and crying, knowing in some ways I caused her suffering.

Will’s been a considerate best friend, but he's also obnoxious as always, giving me side-long glances as if I’m about to crack. To be fair, the state he found me in after revealing our secret to Emma is the lowest I've ever felt. I couldn't even tell him what happened.

There was so much to unpack from that day. When I shifted, my wolf let me know what he was thinking. I had access to senses I'd never felt before as we took in our mate at the back of the clinic. I was him. We were one. His frustration with our mate fleeing ignited a deep burn in our chest, triggering overwhelming instincts as we chased her home. Since that incident, I now understand that the burn we’ve had is our stagnant, smoldering mate bond. I’ve barely slept, struggled to eat, or do anything.

My mind replays the moment Emma ran—the fear in her eyes. The images of her running down the gravel street replay through my mind. My wolf could have easily cut her off and caught her, but I fought those instincts to give her space.

There was a tremble in her voice as she waved her bruised arm in the air. When she admitted she was running and hurt, that ruined me and, in some twisted way, healed the bond with my wolf as he whispered again,

Hold her. Claim her. Keep her.

I rub at that spot under my sternum most of the day. I am trying to swallow away the pain, grief, and guilt that assault my senses constantly.

In my desperation, I call Jackson again. This time, he answers on the first ring.

“Hunt, what's going on?”

“I think it's time you came home.”

“What happened? I haven’t heard from anyone in a while. I didn’t know that things weren’t good.”

I run my hand over my short hair, breathing deeply as I tell him about Dad, the disappearances, Holly being sick, and finally, my mate.

In a pinched voice, he says, “You have a human mate?”

I nod, even though he can’t see me.

He asks, “What’s it like? Finding your person?”

“I wish I could say that it has been easy, fun, and fantastic, but it's heartbreaking, hard, and painful. She may have moved here to start over, but she’s hurting man.” The tightness in my throat grows, “She’s fucking amazing though and so smart but fuck…When I told her about our kind, and she ran.”

“Give her time, man. I know that's not what you want to hear, but if the fates chose her for you…Just give it time. I’ll finish up this job, report to my superiors, and be home as soon as I can. ”

“Sounds good.”

“Hunter, call me if anything changes.”

“Yeah, I will.”

“Oh, does she know about your bond?”

“No, of course not. She fucking ran away, man. How was I supposed to tell her by the way we are supposed to get married and ride off into the sunset together…” My words drip with sarcasm because it’s fucking frustrating—everything we’ve learned about mate bonds says it’s supposed to be instant and easy, and this is not.

Jackson lets out a long sigh, “I hear you. Do what you can. Take your time, but it’s probably better if you lay it all out there…sooner rather than later.”

“Yeah, I get it. I gotta go.”

“See you soon, Hunt.”

I hang up the phone and stare out at the empty clinic parking lot. My brother is right. This would all be easier if I could just explain everything. I just wish I knew her better or how she would respond to a mate bond.

My ass is sore from sitting on the sidewalk for so long. I came early because Emma texted last night that she was willing to meet to talk about this. I just hope that after our discussion, she’d be willing to talk about us, too.

Her 4Runner makes the turn from our houses and pulls into the parking lot. I release a breath I didn't know I was holding.

She slips from her car wearing skintight black jeans with rips at the thighs and knees paired with some sort of off-the-shoulder shirt. Her blonde hair is bright even against the graying skies. She makes her way across the parking lot, and I stand up.

My voice is hoarse. “Thanks for coming, for trying…”

She nods. “We need to discuss my personal and professional boundaries for this position.”

Anything. I would give her anything at this point if she stays and if she can keep my sister from ending up dead from malnourishment or disappearing altogether. “Yeah, anything you want, Dr. Fawnsbeck.”

She leads the way to her office, pushing open the door and gesturing towards the mahogany guest chair. “Have a seat, Mr. White.”

I’m in awe of her strength and confidence. I want her to have power since that clearly was a major issue in her past. I slip into the chair and wait.

She lets out a soft breath as she walks towards the fireplace. “I still don’t know if I can do this.” Her voice wavers as she flips the fireplace switch. “But I am willing to try.” She turns and looks me straight in the eyes while stepping closer. “I want to study your kind. But the only way I can help is with blood tests and samples. I'll need this from a healthy wolf shifter and a sick one.”

I am a hundred percent on board with this. “I’ll be a healthy study for the men.”

“Okay, we can work that out more later. Condition two. I do not work on wolves. If you shift in my clinic, you go outside.”

I bite my lip to hold back the laughter. I never thought a human would send one of us outside like a household dog.

“I’m serious, Hunter White. No wolves in this clinic. I see humans only.”

I give her a curt nod, needing to add in pack rules. “A few pack rules. You can’t tell anyone about us. Whatever medical stuff you need, we’ll order it, but any samples you take, don't leave this village.”

“Pack?” She's quieter now, losing a bit of her steam.

“Yes, for the most part, we refer to everyone living in Solaris as a part of the pack.”

Her eyes widen as she wraps her fingers around each other, taking in this new information. “Where do you fit into this pack, Hunter White? Don’t wolf packs have a hierarchy?”

“I'm the Beta, second-in-command. My dad is the Alpha.” I leave off the rest of the political bullshit. She doesn't need to know about Jackson or my mom’s role as matriarch yet.

“So where does that leave me and any other humans?” Her curiosity is more than I could have asked for.

My voice is soft as I reply, “You're the only human, Emma. You're the first we’ve trusted with our secret.”

“Why me?” she whispers into the large room. The space between us feels like vast oceans.

Why you, indeed, little mate. What do I tell the woman? Erring on the side of truth, I lay out the situation and our need for more medical support. Her application was among the best in the bunch, and I felt she would be the best fit for our situation . She didn’t say much after that, and I’m glad she at least let me explain.

We spend the next few hours making a list of every medical item I need to order and have delivered from Anchorage. The list is extensive and expensive, but we have the funds. Emma is still hesitant about everything, but she seems to click into all of her knowledge as we go over medical supplies.

It's day seven. Emma has worked an average of about fourteen hours each day. I knock on the door to her office as I take in the strong, beautiful woman who has somehow found her way into the hearts of our town. She gestures for me to come in.

Emma was made for this. She’s a great doctor and caretaker, even under stress, even on wolf shifters. Every move she makes is like a dance she choreographed. She's calm and fluid, able to navigate the roughest of seas. My girl is the perfect constellation in the night sky, a symphony of light and darkness guiding me home.

How she took control of the situation with Holly and several other patients had the news spreading quickly—by the end of the week, all five clinic rooms were being used. The weight of the workload is starting to take a toll on her despite the two assistants we brought in.

“Emma?”

Her hands strangle a cup of coffee like a lifeline, anchoring her to this world. The light through the windows accentuates her feminine curves. I can't help but notice how the scrubs she changes into every day seem to hug every inch of her hips and ass.

She hum’s softly in response.

“Can I take you home or take you to dinner?” This is my first big move to spend time with her. I’ve been trying to give her space to adjust to everything, though that time has only made my instincts itch.

She breathes deeply while sliding into her chair. “Hunter, I’m worried that if I can't make an antitoxin for what we’re assuming is a poison, I'm simply prolonging their pain. I can’t promise anyone will ever recover.” Her voice is quiet and filled with remorse.

I want to offer a solution, but I don’t have one. My wolf surges forward. I have to divert my eyes because I know they shifted color. He wants to support her , hold her.

Her words are a truth I’m not ready for. I knew we were in trouble, but knowing my sister's life hangs in the balance had me choking back a whine. These are friends. Family. We are pack. It has been my job to protect them. The guilt smashes through me—that waiting so long to bring in help, may have cost us gravely.

Rolling my shoulders back, I decide the best way to help is to take care of her. I say, “We'll do everything possible to make this work. But I must take care of you right now if you'll let me.”

“Okay,” she says quietly.

Despite her nervous response, a smile pulls at my lips. The other night, she gave me a glimpse into her past, but I hate that she hesitates to let me in. I need to gain her trust. I need to be near her.

“Come on, let's grab dinner at Nan’s?” I extend my hand, my instincts begging for even the slightest contact.

She slides her small hand in mine, and my wolf howls. Hold her.

My attention towards the new doctor hasn't gone unnoticed over the last week, and when my mom asked what was going on, my hesitation made her shriek in joy. I couldn't wipe the smile from my face. Then Holly found out, and the whole town now knows I found my mate. A calm, respectful tone falls over Nan’s every time I walk in, especially today as Emma and I make our way to the back booth hand in hand.

I slide into the booth opposite her and take her in. The freckles that grace her nose appear darker in the low light, and her eyes sparkle as she looks toward the other people eating in the restaurant.

“Have you had the pancakes?” I ask, feeling so out of my element.

She laughs softly and looks towards me, “You know your sister recommended them the last time I was in here. So, yes. I’ve had the pancakes, and they were ah-mazing.”

I sit forward in the booth, placing both my arms on the table. “Well, she knows good food. It was our mom's recipe growing up.”

Emma’s eyebrow pitches up as she sits forward, mirroring my posture. “So tell me, Mr. White, what is the secret to the perfect pancake?”

“Butter, lots of butter,” says my mom as she slides two glasses of water onto the table. “What can I get you both?”

We both place our orders, and I add that I want them to go. The entire town is covertly listening to this conversation, and their interest in my love life has my wolf on edge.

“I will have to try more butter next time I make pancakes,” Emma says.

“You cook?” The surprise in my voice has Emma swatting at my arm. I quickly defend, “I’ve never seen you make more than a sandwich.”

“I happen to enjoy sandwiches. They are easy to make, have a balance of carbs and proteins, and are portable. I practically lived on them in college between classes and my residency.”

“Do you cook, Sheriff?” I love that she is testing out nicknames for me, though none will stick as well as mate would. Fuck. I adjust in my seat slightly as my pants become tighter from the thought. Hiding my reaction, I push to stand and take Emma’s hand, helping her out of the booth, “Let’s go back to your place?”

As we approach my truck, I ask, “Can you tell me about your family?”

“So I have really great parents. My mom and I are best friends; I call her often. My dad stays busy at his law firm, and I have a younger sister who is…well, she’s a free spirit.”

“And by free spirit, you mean?”

Emma shakes her head, sending her curls flying. “I mean, she ran off with some Texas cowboy at the last rodeo, but as far as I know, she is happily married.”

Unable to help myself, I ask, “Do you want to be happily married?”

Her eyes pinch as she looks at me. We are parked in her driveway, “someday, I think I would.”

“Me too,” I agree .

Emma is tucked into the corner of her couch. She yawns while stretching her arms above her head, then pulling the blanket further up around her body. “I should let you sleep,” I say as I press out of the chair across from her.

She shakes her head as if she didn’t just experience the largest yawn. “No, I’m fine. It's been fun to talk to you…stay?” I feel the threads of our bond pulse through the room because it has felt good talking to her, too, and hearing about her bohemian sister who runs away with strangers.

“I am trying to be a gentleman, Emma. I should let you get some sleep, and I’ll see you tomorrow.” The slightest pout graces her lips, and it brings me joy that she wants me here for the first time in the last week.

The instinct pulses through my body. Hold her. Claim her. Keep her.

I fight the small step that pulls me closer to her to hold her. If I give myself even an inch, I worry I will take more than she is ready to give me. Instead, I nearly trip myself as I step backward toward her door.

“Goodnight, Emma.”

“Night, Hunter.”